A day after calling on President Pranab Mukherjee, a delegation of representatives of Opposition parties from Jammu & Kashmir will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to discuss the spiral of violence going on for a month.
led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of the National Conference, the delegation is expected to urge the Prime Minister to start a political process to diffuse the volatile situation that has claimed nearly 70 lives in clashes between stone pelters and security forces.
Kashmir Valley has been in the grip of violence since the gunning down of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani by security forces on July 8.
The delegation will include CPI(M) MlA Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami, State Congress president GA Mir, senior leaders of National Conference and some Independent MlAs.
Opposition parties will request the Prime Minister to impress upon the State Government to stop dealing with the situation “administratively” as it was leading to “unprecedented disaffection”, especially among the youth.
It will underscore the need to initiate a “credible and meaningful” dialogue with “all stakeholders” to bring an end to the unrest without “further waste of time”, sources said.
The delegation will bring up the issue of use of pellet guns by security forces which caused injuries to civilians and security forces on a large scale and pitch for an end to “mass harassment, raids and arrests” as these have worsened an already volatile situation in the State.
On the visit to the President on Saturday, Omar was accompanied by senior leaders of NC, including Nasir Wani, Davinder Rana, Ali Mohammed Sagar and AR Rather.
Expressing serious concern over the prevailing situation in the Valley, Omar warned, “The fire that has been raging in Kashmir Valley has already started spreading across Peer Panjal and Chenab Valley in Jammu region and Kargil area.”
The delegation also met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi here to discuss the situation in the Valley. “Discussed the current political crisis in J&K with a delegation of Opposition leaders from the State led by @abdullah_omar (Omar Abdullah),” the Congress leader tweeted after the meeting.